The Lagos State Police Command has sealed off a church at the centre of a chilling murder investigation following the suspected killing of a 28-year-old Lagos State University (LASU) graduate, Adedamola Ogunbode.
The sealed church is said to be the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Oluwa Parish in Ojo.
The shocking development was confirmed by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Monday.
According to Hundeyin, the church—believed to be the scene of the gruesome crime—was sealed off to prevent it from being set ablaze by enraged members of the public.
“We received intelligence reports indicating that some people were planning to burn down the church in retaliation. We cannot allow that to happen. The location remains a crucial crime scene, and we may need to revisit it multiple times to gather further evidence,” Hundeyin stated.
The police have already taken three suspects into custody, including the church’s pastor, while a manhunt has been launched for five others.
Alarmingly, two of the wanted individuals are believed to have fled to neighbouring Benin Republic, further deepening the mystery surrounding the case.
The Lagos Police Command had initially declared Ogunbode a missing person. However, in a disturbing turn of events, investigators uncovered damning financial transactions that pointed to something far more sinister. Funds had been suspiciously moved from the victim’s account into those of the suspects, leading the police to reclassify the case as a suspected murder.
“We have intensified efforts to locate the victim’s body and uncover the full circumstances surrounding his tragic death,” Hundeyin assured.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has vowed that justice will be served.
“The command is fully committed to getting to the root of this heinous crime and ensuring that all those involved are brought to justice. However, we urge the public to remain calm and allow investigators to do their job without interference,” he stated.
